Ketamine
(ket, k, wobble, wonk)
Ketamine is a dissociative drug with psychedelic properties. It is used regularly in veterinary and paediatric medicine as an anaesthetic. Ketamine is usually snorted but is also occasionally injected. It is generally sold as a fine white powder or in small glass-like shards.
Effects | Dosage | Advice | Support
Effects
If snorted, the effects of ketamine take around 5-15 minutes to come on and will last around 1 hour:
- Euphoria
- Sense of calm/serenity
- Spiritual connection to the world/other people
- Loss of motor functions and slurred speech
- Pain relief or numbness
- Confusion/disordered thinking
- Nausea/vomiting
At high doses you may experience a “k-hole” where you become unresponsive to external stimuli and experience vivid and sometimes uncomfortable hallucinations.
Dosage
As always, dosage will depend on a number of factors such as weight, tolerance and gender, amongst others. These dosages are a guide only and refer to ketamine taken nasally.
| Strength | Dose |
| Light | 15-30 mg |
| Common | 30-75 mg |
| Strong | 75-100 mg |
| Heavy (“K-hole”) | 150+ mg |
Harm Reduction Advice
- Be careful not to take too much and only use ketamine in a safe environment. Accidentally going into a k-hole in a busy or unsafe place can be a really scary and dangerous experience.
- It’s easy to overdo it with ket, stick to a dose you’re comfortable with and don’t try to keep up. Don’t do bumps/keys on a dark dancefloor; it can be easy to take more than you intended when you can’t see what you’re doing.
- Snorting drugs can be damaging to your nose, so always crush your drugs finely, alternate nostrils, avoid sharing equipment and wash your nose out at the end of the night.
- Being intoxicated can make you more vulnerable to the behaviour of others, so use around people you trust and look after your mates.
- If someone you’re with goes into a k-hole, keep an eye on them in case they vomit, don’t attempt to make them vomit as this can increase choking risk. Stay with them and try to ground them until they come round. If at any point you’re worried, ring 999.
- If you’re trying to k-hole, make sure you’re with someone who understands the effects and potential risks of ketamine, and what to do in an emergency.
- Mixing drugs, including alcohol, can be risky. Mixing ket with other drugs, particularly depressants (alcohol, opioids, GHB/GBL) can lead to an increased risk of nausea and unconsciousness. Click here for more information on drug combinations.
- Ketamine tolerance builds up fast and you could quickly end up needing to use large doses to get your desired effect. To avoid your tolerance going up, wait at least a couple of weeks between sessions.
- You may become dependent on ket, some signs that you’re dependent are using most/every day, an increase in tolerance, and struggling with day-to-day activities without using. If you’re finding it hard to control your use, contact us for support.
- You’re likely to feel depleted after using drugs. Hydrate, eat something nutritious and rest. Click here for more information on taking care of yourself after a session.
- Cramps in your abdomen (“k-cramps”), needing to pee more often, and blood in your pee are all signs that ketamine is causing damage to your body and that it’s time to stop using. Your GP can refer you to specialist healthcare, and we can support you around your use.
- If you’re injecting ketamine, make sure to pick up clean equipment from BDP’s Needle Exchange.
- There have been concerns about contaminated ketamine, for up-to-date local alerts, visit our socials.
- We recommend you always test your drugs, for information on testing services in Bristol, click here.
- If you’re out and about, make sure you and your mates have a safe way to get home, definitely don’t drive.
Click here to learn more about spotting the signs of a ketamine overdose, and what to do.
Access Support
The Drop is BDP’s one stop shop for support, advice and resources around party drugs.
